India-China affirm disengagement progress, discuss bilateral relations
New Delhi: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing on Wednesday, marking the first boundary talks between the Special Representatives (SR) since 2019. Both sides “positively affirmed” the progress of their disengagement agreement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and emphasized learning from the four-year military standoff to maintain peace and stability at the border.
The talks also focused on restoring bilateral ties disrupted by tensions at the LAC. Discussions included reopening cross-border exchanges such as the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, data sharing on trans-border rivers, and border trade. A statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted a “six-point consensus” reached during the dialogue, aimed at preserving border peace and fostering improved relations. While India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) did not mention the six-point framework, it reiterated a shared commitment to resolving boundary issues based on earlier political guidelines.
The SR meeting, resumed after a five-year hiatus, comes on the heels of the October 2024 disengagement agreement in eastern Ladakh. This agreement, covering areas like Depsang and Demchok, allowed for patrolling and grazing, paving the way for further discussions on troop de-escalation and de-induction along the border.
The talks did not touch on the resumption of direct flights or journalist exchanges, previously discussed during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's meeting with Wang Yi in Rio de Janeiro. However, Doval’s meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng underscored the need to restore exchanges in economic, cultural, and trade sectors.
During the meeting, both sides acknowledged the importance of peace at the LAC for broader bilateral relations. Doval extended an invitation to Wang Yi to visit New Delhi for the next round of SR talks, reinforcing India’s commitment to strengthening strategic communication with China.
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CJI's advice to aspirant: Join the bar, become a lawyer, don't hanker for judicial services post
New Delhi (PTI): She came to the Supreme Court seeking a re-evaluation of her paper in the examination for joining judicial services as a magistrate. What she got instead was a rejection — and a candid confession by the Chief Justice that he too had wanted to join the judicial services in his youth but was advised by a senior judge to become a lawyer instead.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi on Friday dismissed a plea filed by Prerna Gupta, the judicial services aspirant.
As Gupta pressed her case, the CJI intervened and said, "Let me share my personal story and I hope you will go happily as we cannot allow your petition."
He recounted his time as a final-year law student in 1984 when he wanted to become a judicial officer. As per requirement, he cleared the written test and was set to appear for an interview.
Judicial services is one of the two routes to become a judge after initially joining as a magistrate in lower court and thereafter rising through the ranks to become judge in a high court and possibly the Supreme Court.
The other route is to join the Bar, which means becoming a lawyer, and after building a reputation be picked from the Bar to become a judge at a senior level.
By the time the CJI's exam results came out, he had started practising at the Punjab and Haryana High Court when he was called for the interview.
The senior-most judge on the interview panel happened to be a judge before whom he had recently argued two significant matters.
"One of the matters was Sunita Rani vs Baldev Raj, where he had allowed my appeal in a matrimonial case and set aside the decree of divorce granted by the District Judge on the ground of schizophrenia," he noted.
Before the interview could take place, the judge called the young Surya Kant to his chamber and asked, 'Do you want to become a judicial officer?'
"I said 'yes.' He immediately said, 'Get out from (my) the chamber.'"
The courtroom fell silent as the CJI Justice described his initial heartbreak.
“I came out trembling. All my dreams were shattered. I thought he had snubbed me and that my career was over,” the CJI said.
However, the story took another turn the following day and the judge summoned him again, this time offering a piece of advice that would change the trajectory of his life.
“He said, ‘If you want to become (a judge), you are welcome. But my advice is, don’t become a judicial officer. The Bar is waiting for you,’” Justice Surya Kant recalled.
The CJI said he decided to skip his interview and didn't even tell his parents at first, fearing their disappointment, and instead chose to dedicate himself to his practice as an advocate.
“Now tell me did I make a bad right or bad decision,” the CJI asked and the litigant lawyer left the court with a smile on her face despite her case being dismissed.
Encouraging the petitioner to look toward the future rather than dwelling on the re-evaluation of a single paper, Justice Surya Kant said, "The Bar has much to offer."
